The International Team Challenge at the Bolder Boulder continues to be one of the most unique events in American road racing, but it has lacked star power at times in recent years despite race organizers' efforts to attract the best possible field.

Most of the 10 men's teams and seven women's teams who will compete in the race on Monday were welcomed to town Saturday at the annual Bolder Boulder Luncheon at the Millennium Harvest House hotel. Several teams were still traveling to Boulder.

The past two individual champions on the men's side -- Allan Kiprono of Kenya and Belete Assefa of Ethiopia -- return for this year's race. None of the recent winners on the women's side entered the race this year.

Ethiopia has won the past six team challenges on the men's side and the past four on the women's side.

There are no plans to eliminate the team challenge from race day, but Steve and Cliff Bosley and their team are constantly considering ways to enhance the pro races. During that process, they aren't shy about asking questions such as, has the team challenge run its course?

"It depends on who you ask," said Bolder Boulder professional athletic coordinator Don Janicki. "I talk to a lot of people about it. Me personally, I like it. There has been a growing force to maybe get rid of that and go to maybe more of a club challenge. ...Every time we talk about trying to get away from it, I'll talk to my buddies, I do a lot of running myself, and they say, 'You're crazy to get rid of it. It adds a part of the sport that we don't see much in road racing.'"

Advertisement

The Jacksonville River Run with its American Club Challenge is probably the most similar race but by definition, it is limited to American clubs.

The race generally tries to attract 10 teams for both the men's and women's races for a field of 30 runners in each race and 60 professional runners. Janicki said there are 51 invited athletes this year which is about twice as many as most road races of similar size and distance around the country.

However, four of the 10 men's teams are actually teams comprised of American runners. They are Team USA, Team Colorado, Air Force and a team representing the army. Race director Cliff Bosley said consideration was given to whether the race was being watered down by allowing all four American teams. He said the race is committed paying prize money to additional finishers if one of those teams finishes among the top five.

The Bolder Boulder is also unique for a race its size in the amount of prize money it awards. This year's total prize purse, before bonuses, is valued at $110,600. About half the athletes involved will walk away with some prize money.

"There is a good shot that if you come to the Bolder Boulder, you're going to win some money," Janicki said

But bringing runners currently holding lofty spots in the world rankings would require paying each of those athletes as much as $50,000 each in appearance fees. That is money the Bolder Boulder simply can't afford.

The stadium finish to the Bolder Boulder is popular among the 50,000 citizens who participate each year and it's another unique offering for the pros as well. But the opportunity to win a race with 50,000 fans cheering you on at the finish hasn't been enough to get some to lower those appearance fees.

There are other issues that make organizing a road race with a team component tricky. Janicki said the race had 10 women's teams committed to participate this year just a few weeks ago, but injuries to members of those teams forced them to bow out reducing to the size of the field.

Aaron Braun finished fourth for Team USA last year and said the team challenge element of the Bolder Boulder is still very popular among pros.

"You so rarely get to race as a team any more," Braun said. "If you make a world team or an Olympic team or something like that, but even then you're wearing a team uniform, but you're not relying on your teammates. You're still there as an individual performing.

"Whereas here, this is the closest thing you get to when you ran college cross country. The greatest feeling is winning as a team or doing well as a team. ...That reliance on your team members isn't matched in other races."

The women's race will begin this year at 11:13 a.m., and the men will follow at 11:24.

Knights pick up first playoff win since '14BOULDER — This year's Fairview boys basketball team sure is full of surprises.
After losing five of their first eight games, the Knights rebounded to finish the regular season on a 13-2 run and found a way to win the Front Range League regular season championship. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story